Overview

Traditional cabinetmakers and carpenters often reached for their trusty one-handed block planes for lighter duty tasks, and for good reason, too. Why wrestle with a heavy full-size planer when all you need is to chamfer a corner or dress the edge of a board that's already straight? That's the strength of Triton's TCMPL Compact Palm Planer, a tough little planer that's light and easy to handle. Its slim handle design with rubber over-molded grip means that it's easy to hold and control using just one hand. The 2-3/8'' planing width and 0–1.5mm (about 1/16'') adjustable planing depth is ideal for fast material removal on small to medium sized workpieces. A power lock-off switch prevents accidental operation.

Features:

Stepped depth control allows accurate cutting depth from 0-1.5mm

3 beveling grooves front shoe increases range of edge beveling depths

Power lock-off prevents accidental operation

Slim handle design is easy to hold and control using one hand

Rubber over-moulded grip increases control and safety

Adjustable dust extraction allows chips to be directed away from the workpiece

Parking stand protects the blades and workpiece from damage on rundown

Important Notes

With the Rockler Protection Plan, you'll get accidental damage coverage immediately upon purchase of your tool. Plus, we will extend the manufacturer's warranty for your choice of an additional 1 or 2 years. We'll take care of all parts and labor for any repairs, with no deductibles and no hassles. If your tool can not be repaired, we'll gladly replace it. Available in the US only. Click here to learn more.

I make rustic furniture out of rough sawn and reclaimed wood that leaves a lot of uneven surfaces. I am hoping the small size of this will allow me to ease these edges without removing material I want to preserve.

This looks like a good product from a brand that I like. Good price from a retailer that I like. I just bought several small raw-edge slabs and I'm hoping this will help clean them up before they go to the drum sander.

I just placed an order for this planer. I have owned a larger 3-1/4" Bosch portable planer for many years and have used it in countless situations on job sites and in my shop. It requires 2 hands to operate properly. There have been many instances when a smaller planer like this that can be operated with 1 hand would have been preferable. I have high hopes for this one and Triton seems to make good products. Stay tuned for an update after it arrives and I have an opportunty to try it out.

I make rustic furniture out of rough sawn and reclaimed wood that leaves a lot of uneven surfaces. I am hoping the small size of this will allow me to ease these edges without removing material I want to preserve.

This looks like a good product from a brand that I like. Good price from a retailer that I like. I just bought several small raw-edge slabs and I'm hoping this will help clean them up before they go to the drum sander.

I just placed an order for this planer. I have owned a larger 3-1/4" Bosch portable planer for many years and have used it in countless situations on job sites and in my shop. It requires 2 hands to operate properly. There have been many instances when a smaller planer like this that can be operated with 1 hand would have been preferable. I have high hopes for this one and Triton seems to make good products. Stay tuned for an update after it arrives and I have an opportunty to try it out.

so every power 'planer' that i've looked at has turned out to be a 'hand joiner' instead. what i mean is, on a block plane, the blade adjusts relative to the front AND back face - so with a block plane you can cut into the center of the work for instance. on all these power planers, only the front face is adjustable, and the back face stays flush with the blades, so it works like a joiner and you have to start at the end of the piece. is this planer any different? are there any true 'power planers' out there, or are they all going to be 'hand joiners'?

BEST ANSWER:You are exactly right the way these planers work. They are designed to make something flat and straight. That is why the rear table needs to sit flat on the area where you started planning. What I do if I need to plane something that is not straight is turn the plane at about a 45 degree angle to the work which in essence shortens the length of the table and lets the blade get down into the work quicker. Right now I am fitting baseboard to hardwood flooring. I scribe the base to the floor and then use the power planer to cut off the excess. If there is an area that I cannot get into with the power plane I finish it with the block plane. I hope this helps you.

BEST ANSWER:You are exactly right the way these planers work. They are designed to make something flat and straight. That is why the rear table needs to sit flat on the area where you started planning. What I do if I need to plane something that is not straight is turn the plane at about a 45 degree angle to the work which in essence shortens the length of the table and lets the blade get down into the work quicker. Right now I am fitting baseboard to hardwood flooring. I scribe the base to the floor and then use the power planer to cut off the excess. If there is an area that I cannot get into with the power plane I finish it with the block plane. I hope this helps you.

I think it is a good tool that has limitations. A person would need to practice using the tool before using it on a project. You need a good grip. It starts like a dragster. To get a good run your edge needs to extend before and after the limits of your trim length.. It would take extraordinary control to be able to use it like a hand planer. Like any tool it needs to fit the job at hand. Yes it is a hand joiner.y

All power hand planers I have seen work the same. I have slowlly lowered the power plane in the middle of a piece many times. This is to get it close to my scribe line then finish with a hand plane or belt sander. The power planer removes stock faster to get close to what you want.

Reviews

The product has changeable blades so if or when the current blades become too dull, they can be replaced. It has very small depth incremental adjustments which make it ideal for any surface removal project needed and the feel in the hand is very nice, especially when actually planing. My only dislikes right now is the learning curve of using. I've made a entry divot and an exit divot but a better user instruction may fix that, but I've learned something new about it. I'm not comfortable with the two button switch but I'll overcome that issue. I wish it had come with a better instruction manual and a bag for storage and transporting it. Overall I like it very much and highly recommend it.

I use this planer to smooth rough wood to make blanks for my cnc router. It is quick and quiet. It's my first hand-held planer, but I was able to produce great results with such a short learning period. I recommend the palm planer to all my woodworking friends.

Great small handheld planer that produces nice clean cuts and has a well thought out depth knob in front.

Now the not so good parts. I really don't care for the two button switch, very awkward. Triton needs to add a knob or handle up front for better control. This could help eliminate snipe at the beginning and end of the work piece.

Only have done a couple test cuts. I seems to do a good job. I'm not too sure how well the chamfer slots on the sole will work. If I had one complaint it would be that is is way heavier than I expected it to be.

I make planters out of treated wood and need to even out the joints in the octagonal layers so that they stack well. I was looking for an easier/quicker way than a hand plane and bought the Triton Palm Planer. It works really well, the secret is to lay the back half of the sole on a flat section and cut towards the raised part of the joint - what used to take up to an hour with a block plane now takes 5 minutes.

The reason for only 3 stars though is the terrible ergonomics of the tool - you have to push the little rubber button on the side and then push the switch forward in order to get the tool to work, not too easy at best but the problem comes when you try to move your hand back so that it's over the back part of the sole - almost impossible to do without losing contact with the rubber switch.

This little planer does what it is supposed to, but at a price in accuracy and guideability. To start with, it is larger and much heavier than a tool that is supposed to replace a block plane, which makes it a lot harder to control with one hand. Also, the stiffness of the twin trigger switches (particularly the upper one) requires a grip of steel to hold them down, which leads to earlier finger fatigue and less control over the path that the cutters follow. If you want a power plane, I'd recommend getting a full-sized one like the Makita.

Ergonomics are horrible, both the grip and switch make the tool almost unusable. It only works if your wrist/hand position remain at a certain angle, if you alter that position you can't hold the switch on and then you have start over. The worst handle design ever on a power tool and I've been a woodworker for over 40 years.

This is listed as a compact planer but it is heavy! I ordered and have had time to use it on 3 occasions. The positive side of this tool is that it has plenty of power, the adjustments are easy and accurate and it is pretty small. The negative aspects are 1. The activation switches are not convenient for me to handle. two are required for safety but it is very difficult to depress one and activate the other. 2. It is difficult for me to control the tool. 3. it is too heavy for me to control and use with any delicate accuracy. I am 81 and still use power and hand tools with good success ; but, this one does not fit me at all.